Ice Cream, Chocolate, Toilet Paper?
Strange what brings comfort to people during a pandemic
Ice cream and chocolate are considered comfort foods to most people. But during a pandemic, well, there were some strange purchases bringing comfort to folks.
When quarantine started and food shelves were void of items like soup cans, milk, or eggs, that made sense — but TOILET PAPER. Kleenex would have been more logical since covid-19 was thought to be a respiratory illness. But logic seemed to have flown out the pandemic window.
Nielsen data shows that during the 17-week period that ended June 27, U.S. chocolate purchases increased by 6.3% to $3.7 billion, USA Today reported.
But chocolate bars wasn’t the only chocolate being consumed. All of the sudden everyone was a baker. Hershey saw a huge spike in sales for their syrup, baking chips and cocoa, up by as much as 30%. And, since baking was now the ‘thing’ to do during quarantine, there was a shortage on flour and yeast. Then there was the shortage of seeds as almost everyone took up gardening. With the fear of a potential food shortage at least they would eat healthy.
The COVID-19 pandemic has caused a surge in demand for baking ingredients as people use their time at home to develop a new hobby. Interest in bread making in particular has soared. Recently, there has been a spike in internet searches for bread recipes and guides to developing a sourdough starter. This is a result of people having more time on their hands and wishing to reduce the need to leave their homes to get food. US sales of yeast grew 647% in March while there has also been increased interest in alternative ingredients for allergen-free, vegan and gluten-free baking. According to Research and Markets
CSA and local farmers noticed increased sales with the pandemic. No one wanted to chance going to the grocery store so they opted to get their fruits and veggies from local farmers, something we should be doing even when there is not a pandemic.
Some people stocked up on Spam. Hey, it will last a long time. Popcorn sales went up, which you would expect with so many people staying home and binging on Netflix shows.
Pets got spoiled rotten during quarantine, but then why shouldn’t they. With their owners stuck at home they had to give up so much of their private time.
One item that puzzled me, was PUZZLES. They made sense for something to do during quarantine, but to have a shortage on puzzles was almost has puzzling as the shortage on toilet paper. Almost!
We became OCD during the pandemic. Clean, clean, clean, — cleaning supplies were in short supply. Not just hand sanitizers, hand soap, or handi wipes, but try to find Swifter’s Wet Pads anywhere.
CBD or cannabis. What better way to seek comfort when stuck at home. Something to make you feel mellow and laid back. Also helps enjoy all of the good bread you made, the veggies you grew, and the ice cream you got for dessert.
Why Hoard During A Pandemic
People do strange things when under intense stress. Hoarding, buying things they don’t need or sometimes don’t even want. In the article, Why Coronavirus is Turning People Into Hoarders: A Q&A on the Psychology of Pandemics, You might find a few answers that might explain why we do what do in strange times like these.
